Kat
- Date posted
- 3y
NOCD Advocate Jess, CPSSNOCD Advocat...
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 3y
Hello Kat! It is hard to answer this since there is nothing to go on as far as what kind of obsession you are wanting to use ERP with. I would suggest making a hierarchy (a list) of current obsession you have with Moral scrupulosity and then write the compulsions you have for those obsessions and then rate them 1 to 10. 1 being least distressing and 10 being most distressing and then start with the lower ones and work your way up. For example if one of the obsessions is Confessing immoral thoughts and the compulsion would be confessing then when you have the urge to do so you would not confess and stay with the anxiety that it brings as you stay present and continue your day. I did a quick google search Moral Scrupulosity exposures and came across this https://www.sheppardpratt.org/news-views/story/moral-scrupulosity-ocd-part-one/ if you would like to check that out. Also have you started with a therapist here at NOCD. Give them a call if you are needing help to get started with ERP.
KatKat
- Date posted
- 3y
Jess, thank you so much for this! I found it so helpful and it means a lot that you took the time to reply. I have worked with a therapist here and it helped a lot. I now cannot because I moved and don’t have insurance that covers in this state. The exposures we used don’t work well for me anymore (scripts). I posted my obsessions above. Thank you so much.
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 3y
Hi there! Happy to help with some exposure ideas. First I need to know some specifics. Can you give me some examples of your intrusive thoughts around the moral scrupulosity theme?
KatKat
- Date posted
- 3y
Thank you for replying! It’s hard for me to explain but mainly thoughts around me having ignorant beliefs, not being a good person, or thinking/acting in ways that might harm people. One trigger is that I will see a very strong opinion on social media and it will trigger me. I always look to disagree with black/white opinions because they make me uncomfortable and anxious and then I feel like I have to spend hours googling and talking to people to reassure myself that I don’t have to accept that strong opinion. Or I will try and make sense of the opinion by reading stuff to validate or invalidate it, until I come to terms with it in my mind. I think this is scrupulousity. If anyone says something that I disagree with or that is “bad” and I’ve done it, I spend days/weeks/months obsessing over what they’ve said and what I might have done. And I have my own beliefs/values but when I get triggered I lose them and question everything.
KatKat
- Date posted
- 3y
I also have a lot of fears about being exposed for past things, thoughts, internet stuff.
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 3y
Thanks for clarifying! Here’s some ideas for exposures right off the cuff! You can do really get creative. 1. Make a list of all of the “black and white” ways of thinking a focus on this list. Some responses while doing this could be “I may or may not agree with these views” or “Maybe I have black and white thinking”. 2. Journal about why you agree with a post or view (obviously you don’t agree so this will bring on that exposure anxiety) . 3. Watch videos of people with strong view points. 4. Do a worst case scenario downward arrow exercise….”If I believe this then….XYZ…..then this……which leads to….These are just s few to get you started. Also refrain from safety behaviors like googling or seeking reassurance from others.
KatKat
- Date posted
- 3y
This is so helpful. Thank you so so much!
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